Texas Crop Science (TCS) and GDM’s collaboration to develop higher-yielding soybean varieties comes at a crucial time for the agriculture industry. With the world’s population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, the demand for protein-rich food will only increase. Additionally, the unpredictable climate patterns pose a significant challenge to the soybean production system, further underscoring the need for innovative and sustainable crop solutions. By leveraging TCS’s high-yielding technology and GDM’s expertise in plant genetics, the collaboration aims to create soybean varieties that thrive under varying growing conditions, thus providing a more stable and sustainable food supply.
The recent scientific publication highlights the potential of Texas Crop Science’s yield technology to increase yields and confer stress tolerance characteristics to soybean lines. This resilience to climate stressors would make the crops more adaptable to changing environmental conditions, improving the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector. With TCS’s focus on sustainable agriculture and GDM’s commitment to developing high-yielding varieties, the collaboration is well-positioned to contribute to global food security and a cleaner environment.
Climate Change May Affect The Future Output Of Soybean
The study from Yu, Miao, and Khanna, 2021 focused on analyzing the adaptation of U.S. corn and soybean yields to changes in temperature and precipitation over 66 years. The results showed that both crops became more tolerant to heat and drought, leading to a 33% increase in corn and a 20% increase in soybean yields. However, despite this positive trend, the productivity of the crops under average temperature and precipitation conditions decreased significantly over the same period. Maladaptation to normal conditions reduced corn and soybean yields by 41% and 87%, respectively, indicating that the crops are becoming less suited to typical weather patterns.
Furthermore, the study projected that the changing climate could significantly impact future crop yields. Average corn and soybean yields are expected to decrease by 39-68% and 86-92% by 2050 compared to 2013-2017 levels, depending on the warming scenario. However, incorporating estimated climate-neutral technological advances could have a significant impact on net yield changes. The net yield change in 2050 relative to 2013-2017 ranges from a decrease of 57% to 26% for soybeans and a decrease of 13% to an increase of 62% for corn. These projections suggest that technological advancements will play a critical role in mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on crop yields.
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